THIS IS A CIVIL JUDICIAL REFERRAL PURSUANT TO SECTION 608 OF THE CLEAN AIR ACT. THE REFERRAL ASKS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE BRING AN ACTION AGAINST AIR LIQUIDE AMERICA CORPORATION FOR VIOLATIONS OF THE CAA INVOLVING INDUSTRIAL PROCESS REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT THAT EXCEEDED THE ALLOWABLE ANNUAL LEAK RATE OF REFRIGERANT (FREON) AT THREE SEPARATE FACILITIES IN REG 9. FOR THE THREE FACILITIES IN REGION 9 THE COMBINED PENALTY THAT EPA WILL SEEK IS APPROX $800,000. THIS REGION 9 ACTION AGAINST AIR LIQUIDE IS PART OF A LARGER NATIONAL INITIATIVE INVOLVING A TOTAL OF 22 AIR LIQUIDE FACILITIES IN 5 DIFFERENT REGIONS OF EPA COVERING 18 STATES. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THERE WILL BE A SINGLE COMPLAINT AND CONSENT DECREE ESTABLISHING PENALTIES AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AGAINST THESE 3 REGION 9 FACILITIES IN COMBINATION WITH FACILITIES IN OTHER REGIONS.